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Strokes

A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. A stroke is a serious condition that needs immediate medical treatment. If untreated, a stroke can cause brain injury, disability and even death.

What can cause a stroke

A stroke occurs when the blood flow to your brain is interrupted, causing brain cells to die through lack of oxygen.

Ischaemic stroke

An ischaemic stroke happens when a blood vessel to the brain becomes blocked by a clot.

Haemorrhagic stroke

This is a brain haemorrhage caused by a blood vessel bursting and blood leaking into the brain. It's more likely if you have high blood pressure.

Having a mini-stroke

A stroke is temporary and lasts a few minutes with symptoms resolving within 24 hours. It's often a warning sign that you could experience a full-blown stroke. You can get treatment to prevent a serious stroke happening.

See your GP as soon as possible and ask to be referred to a specialist stroke service. This should happen within seven days.

The effects of a stroke

A stroke can result in death or leave sufferers with a disability causing them difficulties:

talking

walking

performing other basic tasks

Getting treatment quickly can reduce the effects of a stroke.

Diagnosing a stroke

A computerised tomography (CT) scan should be carried out within 24 hours of admission to determine whether the stroke is ischaemic or haemorrhagic.

Diagnosed with an ischaemic stroke

If you have an ischaemic stroke, you might need to take blood-thinning or clot-busting drugs. You might also need a carotid endarterectomy operation. In severe cases, you may need emergency surgery or medicine for brain swelling.

Diagnosed with a haemorrhagic stroke

If high blood pressure caused you to have a haemorrhagic stroke, you will get medicine: